Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: RainbowMan on September 30, 2017, 07:04:53 PM
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I'm sure this has been discussed on this forum before but I wasn't able to find the right thread. What's your favorite knot for connecting a fluro top on your braid main spool? This is for a spincaster setup.
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I like the Alberto knot
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I like to use a small swivel or a ring. I don't trust any knot for that particular combination.
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I like to use a small swivel or a ring. I don't trust any knot for that particular combination.
I'm not a big fan of the swivel rattling around inside my rod guides. How do you prevent that? Short leader?
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I'm not a big fan of the swivel rattling around inside my rod guides. How do you prevent that? Short leader?
Yup. Never longer than 4 feet. And I am mindful at the end of every retrieve to make sure the swivel doesn't reach the top guide.
Back to you with a question: how on Earth do you prevent line twisting when fishing a spinner such as a blue fox if you don't use a swivel?
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I use the Albright Knot to tie braid to fluorocarbon. Its a nice neat knot and fly's thru the guide's with no problem at all. Holds very well as well. Swivels have their place as well if you're trying to avoid line twist and if needed I add one well down my leader.
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Yup. Never longer than 4 feet. And I am mindful at the end of every retrieve to make sure the swivel doesn't reach the top guide.
Back to you with a question: how on Earth do you prevent line twisting when fishing a spinner such as a blue fox if you don't use a swivel?
You must be using a longer rod, like a drift rod. I wouldn't want to spend the day casting my spinning rod with 4ft of line hanging out.
For spinners, I tend to put the swivel right at the lure.
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double uni knot, works great.
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I use a triple surgeon's knot
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Double centauri
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i use double uni.
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Double or triple surgeon's
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Double uni is good. But the FG knot, is F* ing Great.
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The slim beauty is the best I’ve tried - great for use on a spinning rod - winds right into the guides and onto the reel and castes through them easily - has not failed in over 3 years of use
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Double uni knot
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Yucatan knot: https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/yucatan-knot
double the braid.
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If you can't tie knots, tie lots.
Has always worked for me
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lol I seem to be a minority...I use a loop to loop! Never failed me...yet :p
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Double uni is good. But the FG knot, is F* ing Great.
I 2nd the FG knot , been using it for 2 years now and it's never failed me yet .....
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I 2nd the FG knot , been using it for 2 years now and it's never failed me yet .....
I've recently replaced all my leader to braid connections with the FG knot, I like the low profile of this knot.
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The Double Uni knot has never failed me. Quick YouTube instructional video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk_VUb-dOQo
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Alberto knot works fine for me, and it's not too hard to tie.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMMx5WRk6as
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I've recently replaced all my leader to braid connections with the FG knot, I like the low profile of this knot.
Totally agree. I find the "clanginess" of heavier profile knots very unnerving. Even with very thin braid (10 lb. Nano) it seems to work for me. It just took a little practice to get the hang of it. Remember to keep the wraps snug, in order, and to tighten the wraps before the half hitches.
Anyone try the tippet rings from fly fishing as an alternative?
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Does the FG knot work on thin mono or floro in the 6- 8lbs region?
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Thanks guys. For braid > 30lbs is there a preference between double uni and FG?
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Totally agree. I find the "clanginess" of heavier profile knots very unnerving. Even with very thin braid (10 lb. Nano) it seems to work for me. It just took a little practice to get the hang of it. Remember to keep the wraps snug, in order, and to tighten the wraps before the half hitches.
Anyone try the tippet rings from fly fishing as an alternative?
My 2 cents:
If the water is not super clear and Im not going for spooky coho, I'll tie the braid mainline to a small swivel. And I'll put a bead on before the swivel so it cant be reeled into the guides. IMO the best knot to use with braid is the palomar. Easy to tie as well. If you utube "knot wards" they test these knots and the palomar is the winner for braid. But many other good knots for braid that are close runner ups to the palomar. Use what works for you.
Off the swivel I'll run 3 or so feet of 12 or 15lb mono. Use flouro if you like. I don't think it matters for salmon, but if you like it and have confidence in it then by all means fish it. At the end of the leader is, obviously, my lure.
If I'm just not hooking anything and I feel going ultra stealthy is needed then I'll run a 10 or so foot leader tied right to the braid. The double uni and others are fine. I personally like the modified Albright. I find it goes through the guides better and I believe on knot was it tested the highest for a mono/flouro to braid knot.
There is even a knot wars app you can put on your phone.
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.........Use flouro if you like. I don't think it matters for salmon..............
.........If I'm just not hooking anything and I feel going ultra stealthy is needed...................
Good post.
There are lots of us who think likewise when salmon fishing: stealth is important at times; flouro is not.
Flouro is invisible, but they cast shadows just the same as mono.
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Fluoro is not invisible as it has a higher refractive index than water. The refractive index of water will vary depending on dissolved and suspended materials in it.
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If fluorocarbon was actually invisible then it wouldn’t cast a shadow either. If there is any ‘optical’ benefit to fluoro it’s probably marginal at best but aren’t likely to be worse than regular mono, so if it gives one confidence, then go for it.
As for the fluoro-mono connection I also like a tiny micro-swivel though it does somewhat limit you if for some reason you need to reel the connection into the guides. For knots, the Albright is a similar but simpler version of the Alberto.
Not familiar with the FG knot, learn something new every day. Interested in trying it out though it looks a bit tricky to tie.
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Does the FG knot work on thin mono or floro in the 6- 8lbs region?
Yes, it does. If you take a look at the FG's design, it behaves the same as a Chinese finger puzzle. Because of the large number of wraps, the friction and tightening forces are spread along a longer section of line than the Albright and double uni style knots. This from a dyed in the wool double uni guy. Also, because the mono isn't doubled over, it slides through the guides beautifully.
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Fluoro is not invisible as it has a higher refractive index than water. The refractive index of water will vary depending on dissolved and suspended materials in it.
Interesting, so in terms of fishing what is fluoro good for then? Thanks.
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If fluorocarbon was actually invisible then it wouldn’t cast a shadow either.
I meant to say fluorocarbon is less visible to fish, compare to mono. However, that and whether it cast a shadow is two different thing altogether.
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Interesting, so in terms of fishing what is fluoro good for then? Thanks.
FC has a lower refractive index than mono so the claim is it is less visible but not invisible. It also is denser so it will sink better than mono. It is also claimed to have better abrasion resistance.
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FC has a lower refractive index than mono so the claim is it is less visible but not invisible. It also is denser so it will sink better than mono. It is also claimed to have better abrasion resistance.
Less visible or invisible, we are not fish so we will never really know for sure. I am sure most people who use fluoro believe the fish cannot see it. Personally my applications are for chironomid fishing which I think makes a real difference; and low water steelhead, which I don't catch enough to say if its better than my 6 lb Ultra green.
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I've seldom found FC made much of if any difference. When it seemed to I found it impossible to conclude that it wasn't some other factor such as changes in light, water temperature or surface distortion that made the difference and not the FC. I carry some but use it maybe 5% of the time or even less.
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Less visible or invisible, we are not fish so we will never really know for sure. I am sure most people who use fluoro believe the fish cannot see it. Personally my applications are for chironomid fishing which I think makes a real difference; and low water steelhead, which I don't catch enough to say if its better than my 6 lb Ultra green.
You mention chironomid fishing - so I'll bite! I also use FC for chironomids because the diameter is smaller than mono, which will allow me to tie on very small flies if I need to. Also, chironomids don't move (much at all) which will allow trout to inspect my offering and casually sip it if it chooses to do so. I want every advantage I can get, so FC fits the bill for me. Otherwise, when I'm trolling searching patterns, I just use 6 lb. mono and it works fine. Trout will take searching patterns like leeches much differently than chironomids. They will typically commit and strike hard, so being "stealthy" isn't as much as an issue here.
On the river, I use FC for my coho roe fishing. Again, it's what works for me. I believe it's just one of many factors that increase my chances of catching coho, which I believe are the most difficult salmon/steelhead to entice. However, when drifting blades, I just use regular mono for the same reason I use it for searching patterns in the lakes.
In the end, go with what works for you!
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I've seldom found FC made much of if any difference. When it seemed to I found it impossible to conclude that it wasn't some other factor such as changes in light, water temperature or surface distortion that made the difference and not the FC. I carry some but use it maybe 5% of the time or even less.
LOL come to think of it I started using FC when I started using the non-slip loop knot on #14 & #16's. The size of the knot in relationship to the fly bothered me, hence the change and it stuck.
Still, I always remind myself the words of RHB when I have the urge to go buy stuff, and probably saved myself some money over the years. It went something like this:
"I am not concerned with Christmas-tree lures or other exotic hardware available on store shelves. I am not interested..... in new gadgets that will enable me to cast great distances............or flies that so show their light through the water that no fish can resist them. I have known all these things or others much like them, and I know they will work no miracles for me or for anyone else."
Now, about the new sage X switch rod........
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I use the FG knot.
https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/albright-vs-alberto-vs-fg-knot/
how to tie it:
https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/fg-knot/
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The new hotness is the FG Knot, and also the Dodd Knot.
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Tie a perfection loop on both the braid and on your leader and join them loop to loop